More girls in blue

THE stereotype image of the men in blue is fast being eroded in Greater Manchester. More and more women are joining the police, and their success is exemplified by mum-of-two Chief Supt Justine Curran, who this year became Manchester's first woman police commander.

THE stereotype image of the men in blue is fast being eroded in Greater Manchester.

More and more women are joining the police, and their success is exemplified by mum-of-two Chief Supt Justine Curran, who this year became Manchester's first woman police commander.

And now, for the first time ever, the latest round of new recruits is almost 50 per cent women, and the hope is the balance will be repeated year after year.

Whether it's down to the positive image of women police officers in programmes like The Bill, the increased exposure of real-life women officers in the media or a more targeted approach to recruitment, bosses at GMP say they are delighted.

'Glass ceiling'

The force already has senior women officers, detectives, forensic experts, and firearms officers who have already broken or are working to break through the 'glass ceiling'.

Now another 42 will be added to their number.

Chief Supt Curran, who has 14 years' service, came to Manchester from Liverpool in July. She said: "There was a time when all you saw was the odd woman in CID, now they are everywhere."